20th Century Studios President Teases New Franchise Additions

20th Century Studios’ slate has been full of recent hits throughout 2024, including Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Alien: Romulus, and the major success Deadpool & Wolverine. Steve Asbell, president of 20th Century Studios, teased several exciting new franchise and original film developments during a media interview.

With the studio’s franchise successes having firmly positioned 20th Century in the Disney family, Asbell emphasized a commitment to originality alongside franchise classics, mentioning that getting the right rhythm for franchises like Avatar, Predator, and Alien has allowed the studio to explore new genres with confidence.

One of the biggest reveals was that not one but two new Predator films are said to be in their last stages of production. Dan Trachtenberg, who directed the well-received Prey (2022), has completed two projects for the franchise. Asbell revealed that next year’s Predator: Badlands, a sci-fi twist on the familiar universe starring Elle Fanning (The Great), recently wrapped production in New Zealand and will premiere in theaters next year. Alongside it, another secret Predator project is also in the works, set to launch before Badlands.

For Alien, Asbell confirmed plans to develop a sequel to Alien: Romulus in collaboration with Romulus director Fede Álvarez. The upcoming film will continue the stories of Romulus survivors Rain and Andy, played by Cailee Spaeny (Priscilla) and David Jonsson (Rye Lane).

In a lightning round of franchise updates, Asbell hinted at potential reboots or continuations, including a possible Speed 3, which would only proceed if the story captivates its original stars, Keanu Reeves (The Matrix) and Sandra Bullock, who recently starred in The Lost City (2022). He also expressed enthusiasm about exploring more Agatha Christie mystery novels, including And Then There Were None and Miss Marple. And Then There Were None centers on ten strangers on an island who are killed one by one as hidden secrets emerge. Meanwhile, Miss Marple follows an elderly sleuth who uncovers dark truths behind seemingly simple village mysteries.

Asbell’s leadership underscores 20th Century Studios’ dual approach of delivering nostalgic favorites while supporting fresh, diverse storytelling. With new Predator movies set to push the boundaries of sci-fi horror and a slate of originals in the pipeline, Asbell’s vision for the studio promises both innovation and a reinvigoration of fan-favorite franchises.